Boat propelling unit



April 29, 1969 e. E. WELSH BOAT PROPELLING UNIT Filed July 27, 1967 .l-llllll lil- WW lv/ //V E/V 7'08 United States Patent 3,440,995 BOAT PROPELLING UNIT George E. Welsh, Carthage, M0. (600 N. 13th St., Hartshorne, Okla. 74547) Filed July 27, 1967, Ser. No. 656,545

Int. Cl. B63h 16/14 US. Cl. 11525 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An assembly for propelling a small boat, the assembly including a drive unit that is foot operated, the drive unit operating a flexible shaft that extends over the transom of a boat and the flexible shaft being connected to a propellor at the stern of the boat.

This invention relates generally to boat propelling devices. a

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a boat propelling unit for small boats and which is driven by footpower of a person sitting within the boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat propelling unit which includes a flexible shaft that is powered by the drive unit, the flexible shaft extending over the top of the transom and downwardly astern of the boat where it is secured to a propellor shaft of a propeller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat propelling unit which accordingly does not require any fuel to drive the same nor any complex engine.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a boat propelling unit which is simple in design, inexpensive a to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and elficient in operation.

These and other objects 'will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a boat incorporating the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view as viewed along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a boat propelling unit, according to the present invention, wherein there is a boat 11 wherein there is mounted a drive unit 12.

The drive unit 12 includes a pair of foot pedals 13 mounted upon crank arms 14 secured to pivotable shaft 15 upon which there is secured a rotatable drum 16. The rotatable drum 16 has an internal gear 17 therewithin, the internal gear 17 being engaged by a small gear 18 secured on shaft 19 that is journalled in a bearing 20, the shaft 19 being connected at one end to a flexible shaft 21. The drive unit 12 is supported upon a frame 22 comprised of a pair of horizontal extending beams 23 supported at one end upon stanchions 24 which rest upon the deck 25 of the boat, the opposite ends of the beams resting on the gunwale of the boat as is shown in FIG- URE 1 of the drawing. The terminal ends of the beams extend beyond the gunwale 26 and provides support means for a propeller shaft assembly 27. A plurality of supports 28 are secured along the beams 23, the supports 28 supporting the flexible shaft 21 thereto. The flexible shaft extends across the top of the gunwale 26, the end of the flexible shaft being connected to a shaft 29 upon which the propeller blade 30 is secured.

A seat 31 for a person is adjustably mounted in a forwardly, rearwardly direction on a rack 32 supported between the beams 23.

3,440,995 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 The seat 31 provides a steering control means which is accomplished by a slight left or right shift of the operators body which moves lever 33 back and forth for turning the direction of the propeller. This is accomplished by a sleeve 34 which supports the propeller bearing housing 35 at its lower end. The shaft 37 is adjustable upwardly and downwardly by means of a set screw 36 threadingly engaged in the sleeve 34, the set screw 36 bearing against the the side of the shaft 37. A bracket 38 pivotable about a pin 39 carries a pin 40 at one end which extends through a slot 41 of a lug 42 secured to a side of the tube 44, the opposite end of the bracket 38 being held between a U-shaped member 43 supported between springs 34 and 45, the U-shaped member 43 is sidewardly movable by a slight right or left shift of the operators body.

, Thus there has been provided a novel method for steering a boat and a novel method for powering a propeller of a boat.

I claim:

1. In a boat propelling unit, the combination of a means for powering a boat and a means for steering said boat, said means for powering said boat comprising a foot .operated drive unit, and said means for steering said boat comprising a seat for an operator, said seat comprising an element of said steering control which is accomplished by a slight leftward or rightward shift of said operators body thereupon, said drive unit comprising a pair of foot pedals, said pedals being mounted upon crank arms secured to a shaft generally supported in bearings mounted upon a frame, said shaft having a drum secured thereupon, said drum having an internal gear, said internal gear being threadingly engaged with a relatively smaller gear, said smaller gear being secured to a shaft supported rotatably free within a bearing supported on said frame, said shaft of said smaller gear being con nected to one end of a flexible cable, and the opposite end of said flexible cable being connected to a propeller shaft having a propeller secured thereto.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of horizontally extending beams, one end of said frame being supported upon a pair of stanchions resting upon the deck of said boat, the opposite end of said beams being supported over the gunwale of said boat, and said frame providing a plurality of support means along its length for supporting said flexible cable extending between said shaft of said smaller gear and said shaft of said propeller.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said steering means includes a housing for said propeller shaft, said housing being secured to the lower end of a shaft, said shaft extending vertically and being adjustably supported at an upper portion thereof within a sleeve, said sleeve having a sidewardly extending lug, said lug having a slotitherein, a pin extending into said slot, said pin being secured to one end of a lever, said lever being centrally pivoted, the opposite end of said lever being held within a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member being supported between a pair of sidewardly extending springs, and said U-shaped member being sidewardly moveable by said seat, having said operator sitting thereupon and shifting his body leftwardly or rightwardly to control saic steering.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,859 10/1952 Billman et al. -2. 2,775,950 1/1957 Dearmond 1152 3,010,421 11/1961 Perkins 1152- 3,244,136 4/1966 Yarbrough 115-2 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner. 

